Man jailed after arson attack at Newcastle barber shop

On the morning of May 23, 2023, emergency services received a report of a fire at a premises on Stamfordham Road, in the Westerhope area.

Officers and emergency services attended the scene and four people were admitted to hospital. All four people were later discharged.

A full investigation into the cause of the fire was immediately launched by Northumbria Police and one of the people injured, Dilovan Sindi, was swiftly identified as having started the fire.

CCTV footage showed Sindi, 39, entering the barber shop with a can which contained a quantity of petrol.

He then poured the petrol over furniture in the premises and several people inside.

Following a struggle, the petrol was ignited by a lighter which was held by Sindi, causing an explosion which resulted in serious burn injuries to himself and another man.

It is believed that Sindi was in dispute with the owner of the business and was looking to target him.

One of the victims sustained 65 per cent burns to his body and was in hospital for several months before being discharged. He continues to be treated for his injuries.

A child and his father who were in the shop at the time were physically uninjured but both continue to suffer serious psychological effects from the attack.

One man who was inside the shop escaped without injury, while another man sustained minor injuries to his leg and continues to receive psychological counselling as a result of the incident.

Sindi, of Sulgrave Road, Washington, himself sustained serious burns to his body in the incident and required several months of hospital treatment.

On being released from hospital, he was arrested and charged with three counts of attempted murder and one count of arson with intent to endanger life.

In September last year, as he was due to go on trial at Newcastle Crown Court, Sindi entered guilty pleas to arson with intent to endanger life, grievous bodily harm and attempted wounding.

Sindi was remanded in custody following the hearing and was back at the same court on Wednesday, January 15, where he was sentenced to seven years and two months in prison.

Following the hearing, the officer in charge of the case, Detective Inspector Rona Malessa, of Northumbria Police, said: “First and foremost we would like to pay tribute to the victims.

“They have been put through a horrendous ordeal and we hope that they can take some closure now that their attacker has been jailed.

“I would also like to thank our partner organisations Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and the North East Ambulance Service who were so crucial to the emergency response on the day in putting out the blaze and getting those injured the appropriate treatment before transporting them to hospital.”

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Detective Inspector Malessa added: “Sindi’s actions on May 23, 2023, were utterly abhorrent and he caused serious, life-changing injuries to one of his victims.

“It is fortunate that we are not dealing with much worse outcomes given the seriousness of the attack that day.

“I hope this case demonstrates to the public that we will always look to prosecute violent offenders in our communities and do everything we can to put them before the courts and bring them to justice.”